Authors have the gift of capturing moments on the page. A great book has the reader forget that they’re reading. They get lost in the pages and follow the character’s journey as though they are in that fictional world.

How do authors capture these special moments on the page?

Authors use their imagination as well as reminisce about past events from their own personal lives (exaggerated or not). Many writers carry a notebook with them every where they go to record stuff that can be used later in stories. I’m not talking about a journal. I like to call it ‘a book of observations.’

If you’re interested in becoming a writer, then I highly recommend jotting down notes. Notes can be about:

conversations overheard

physical descriptions of people you meet

inspirational quotes

passages of your favorite books

setting descriptions

funny jokes

The list can go on and on. Basically, feel free to write down anything that interests you. It’s your notebook, so there’s no concrete rules. The main goal is to have fun though. You never know what story idea may spring from one of your observations.

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Great article! I feel like I have so many stories in my head, for youngsters and adults. I carry a small thin notebook and jot things down all the time. I agree that it helps. For me it starts to shape character development and I love it. I’ve always wanted to write a story or a series of poems. Modern technology and tips like yours are invaluable. Thank you 😊